Trevor Noah pulls UK dates

...yes, it's coronavirus again

Trevor Noah has pulled his UK and Irish dates in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The host of the Daily Show on Comedy Central was due to play the Glasgow SSE Hydro on Friday, followed by the 3Arena in Belfast and the O2 In London as part of his Loud & Clear show.

But he has issued a statement saying: ‘In support of the World Health Organisation’s efforts to inform and help individual communities slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus I will be postponing all tour dates for the next month.

‘By reducing large gatherings we can help flatten the curve of any possible outbreaks to keep it manageable within our communities

‘All postponed dates will be rescheduled and new show info will be posted to my website as it comes in. Looking [forward] to seeing you all on a happier and healthier note.’

His announcement came before Donald Trump said he was expanding a travel ban to the US to include Britain and Ireland as of tomorrow. Although American citizens are not affected, the news is likely to lead to widespread flight cancellations.

Noah’s UK tour was originally longer, but in December he pulled most of his UK dates with promoters citing vague ‘scheduling conflicts’.

Dates in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle were dropped less than a month after being announced, and publicists were unable to provide further information.

It is not the first time he has pulled UK tour dates, dropping gigs in 2015 when it was announced he was taking over The Daily Show from Jon Stewart.

Production on the Daily Show has also stopped for two weeks because of the virus.

‘Our top priority is the safety of our guests and staff,’ said a Comedy Central spokesperson. ‘Beginning Monday, March 16, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah will temporarily suspend production as a precautionary measure. We... hope to return Monday, March 30.’

Other US late-night shows that have now stopped shooting - after initially announcing they planned to go ahead without a studio audience - include Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers.